January 11, 2013

President Obama to bestow Medal of Honor

President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to Clinton Romesha, a former active duty Army Staff Sergeant at a House ceremony on Feb. 11.

The White House says Romesha will receive the Medal of Honor
for his "courageous actions while serving as a Section Leader with Bravo
Troop, 3d Squadron, 61st Cavalry
Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division during combat
operations against an armed enemy at Combat Outpost Keating, Kamdesh
District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on October 3, 2009."

He'll be the fourth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Romesha separated from the Army on April 4, 2011; he and his
family currently live in Minot, North Dakota.

Obama noted the award as he and Afghan President Hamid Karzai held a joint press conference to announce plans to accelerate the withdrawal of troops from the country. Obama noted the medal is the "nation's highest military decoration" and would be bestowed for Romesha's "heroic service."

He and Karzai claimed progress in training Afghan troops to secure the country, with Obama saying it was "only possible because of the incredible sacrifices of
our troops and our diplomats, the forces of our many coalition partners,
and the Afghan people who've endured extraordinary hardship.

"In this
war, more than 2,000 of America's sons and daughters have given their
lives," he said. "These are patriots that we honor today, tomorrow, and forever."